The Football Association has been accused by Downing Street of being indecisive regarding terrorism. This criticism comes as the decision to reduce the use of the Wembley arch for displaying messages of unity was condemned.
The Football Association (FA) has recently announced that they will be limiting the use of lighting on the arch at the national stadium. This decision comes after facing criticism for only observing a minute of silence to acknowledge the Hamas attack on Israel.
On Thursday, the prime minister’s spokesperson expressed strong disapproval of the decision. They stated, “There should be no hesitation when it comes to condemning terrorism. It is important to show support for those impacted and we were let down by their choice not to illuminate it after the attack in Israel.”
The Football Association (FA) has decided that Wembley Stadium should only be lit up for sporting and entertainment events, after reviewing their policy. FA chief executive Mark Bullingham acknowledged last month the distress caused to the Jewish community when the arch was left unlit during England’s friendly match against Australia following the Hamas attack.
Sources from the FA maintain that the revised policy will not result in a decrease in their support for various campaigns and causes. The option of lighting the arch as a symbol of solidarity has not been dismissed. However, there has been a shift in the previous practice of lighting the arch for multiple causes in recent times.
Last year, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the arch was lit up with the colors of the Ukrainian flag. In 2015, after the terror attacks in Paris, it displayed the hues of the French tricolour. The arch has also been illuminated to show support for International Women’s Day, and last year it showcased the rainbow colors of the LGBTQI+ flag in response to Fifa’s ban on England players wearing rainbow armbands at the World Cup.
During the week of the 7 October attacks, there was pressure on the FA to illuminate the arch in the colors of the Israeli flag. However, the FA chose to observe a moment of silence instead to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the attacks and the Palestinian victims of Israel’s retaliatory actions. This decision was criticized by John Mann, the government’s advisor on antisemitism, who believed it showed a disregard for the Jewish community and that the FA was not equipped to handle the situation. He stated, “By claiming to avoid politics, football has unintentionally become embroiled in politics.”
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The Football Association seems to have recognized and addressed the criticism in its updated policy. They have privately emphasized that Wembley is primarily a venue for sports and entertainment, rather than being solely a national monument.
Source: theguardian.com
